Margaret 'Peggy' Gallagher, also known as 'Grammy', was the formidable mother of Frank and matriarch of the Gallagher family. Her actions in the Gallagher and Jackson households make her one of the two main antagonists of season 2.
Personality
A very loud overbearing woman, she was largely responsible for Frank's nature. Peggy often neglected her son and treated him very coldly, this would be reflected in her son's own parenting to his children. Peggy emasculated her grown son and was notable for being the only person to shut him down completely.
It is from Peggy that Frank developed his manipulative nature, this was seen when Peggy bribed her grandchildren with gifts and money to get on their good side and turn them against Frank until she was exposed. Like her family, she has violent tendencies but Peggy is much worse, as she once shot at Sheila Jackson (US), made plans to kidnap the children of her own drug buddy and stabbed her own son in the leg with a screwdriver for trying to swindle her.
In spite of her vile nature, she does come through for her family as she was happy when she metLip Gallagher and Ian Gallagher. She spent time with the youngest grandchildren, though she was a bad influence on them. While it is unknown how she treated her other sons, she seemed to care about them as she called Wyatt her baby and sent all her money. Though Peggy treated Frank with disdain, it was interesting to note that she chose to stay with him than her other sons. Peggy even expressed pride in him for ripping off the state by pretending to be Ginger.
History
Season 1
Peggy visited by her grandsons.
Peggy was visited in prison by Lip and Ian. She was unaware of who they were until they inform her that they are her grandsons, via her son Frank and she gets pleased by this news after remembering them. The three talk with them asking about her other sons, since they learned one of them might be Ian's real biological father. Peggy was not too surprised by their mother having an affair, she gives them the names after she has them promise to get her cigarettes.
Season 2
In Can I Have a Mother, Peggy is sent home from prison after lying about her health. She immediately makes herself at home in the Gallagher Household, where she meets her other grandchildren Debbie, Carl, and Liam with them being surprised to finally see her. Peggy then knocks out a piece of the wall, she claims a gun and money while telling the kids not to tell Fiona as they are more than happy to keep her secrets after being handed a $100 bribe. Peggy later goes to the Alibi and finds her son Frank, who is horrified to see her released. Peggy then shanghaied her son into helping her go after an old dealer who profited from her arrest. Peggy soon makes an enemy of Sheila, with her rude nature. She later confronts the dealer now a doctor and demands money from him, though he couldn't pay and she planned to kidnap his daughters. Frank steps in and ends up ruining the deal by only getting a quarter of the promised 200,000 dollars. The mother and son are shown to have a frosty relationship, as she stabs him in the leg for trying to swindle from her. After Frank later tells her that he won't subject to her will, she is unfazed and gets him to comply by insulting him.
She attends a party at the Jackson house, where she is still rude to Shelia who she even tries to shoot.
Despite her hostile nature, she tries her best to reach out to her grandchildren, giving Fiona money and showering Carl and Debbie with gifts. However, she was also trying to manipulate them to gain their trust and this nearly works as Fiona liked having her around until she saw an argument between Frank and Peggy. From this, Fiona sees why her father is the way he is since he had a horrible parent just like her.
However, when Peggy tries to run a meth lab in the basement, Fiona and Frank plot to get rid of her only to discover that she really is dying of cancer and doesn't have long to live. She eventually gets sick to the point where she wants to hasten her death, such as to get hit by a bus to sue the city, only it failed.
She soon gives Sheila permission to kill her, but not before sending out money to Frank's brothers instead of Frank himself since she wanted to spite him. In the end, she is suffocated with a pillow by Shelia at Peggy's request. Frank soon walks in on Sheila smothering her, he is confused by what's occurring and Sheila tells him that Peggy died. Frank (putting things together) rejoices at finally being free of his mother's influence. However, he is later angered to hear that she sent all of his brothers money while leaving him nothing.
After her death she is cremated, and Frank doesn't want anything to do with his mother's remains. Her ashes were brought back home by Monica the morning after Peggy's mourning.
During this time Mandy was pregnant, which made Terry very upset. Frank began to prepare a smoke made from his mother's ashes, Terry breaks in the back door looking for Ian and knocks the bag of ashes from the table and on to the floor.
Episode Appearances
Shameless (US)
Season 1
Season 2
Season 4
- A Jailbird, Invalid, Martyr, Cutter, Retard, And Parasitic Twin (mentioned only)
Notes
- Similar to Monica, she had a terrible effect on Frank and caused most of his insecurities and terrible habits to emerge.
- According to her, she slept with some of the female inmates of the prison.
- She most likely went to jail before Debbie, Carl, and Liam were born since they didn't know her.
- This was supported by Fiona being eleven when she was locked up.
- She was familiar with Kev and Veronica.
- She did twelve years out of her 20 year to life sentence.
- She may not have been on good terms with her other sons either, as her son Jerry Gallagher owed her five grand and seemed to know his grandsons were sent by her while Clayton Gallagher was unaware she was released from prison.
- Despite that, while dying she sent all but Frank money.
- Apparently, she had a rumored affair with a black musician and the result was Frank and Jerry.
- It appears the traits skipped a generation and passed onto Frank's son Liam .
- She mentions having a husband who may have been Frank's father figure but its unknown if her husband or lover are alive.
- She never liked Monica for being with her son.
- Coincidentally, Monica's father didn't like her son for being with his daughter.
- She never met her oldest granddaughter Samantha Slott.
- It is also unknown if she was aware of her as Frank was. However, Samantha learned about her when talking to Frank.
- She also never met her great-grandson or great-granddaughter.
- It is unknown if Ginger Gallagher was her sister or sister-in-law.